DISCLAIMER: Anything from Rick Riordan is not mine.

Hello, this is the update that I promised. I have to make this quick because I know you have been itching for this. I might receive hate mail if I don't. Hehehe. Well, this isn't much actually. I made this on the rush. I'm sorry about the cliffies but it was necessary really. I mean a good story is always loaded with cliffies, right? Just like Mr. Riordan and his PJO/HOO series. It was really driving me crazy to wait every year for the book (Right now, the Mark of Athena waiting game is torturing me). So without further ado, here it is the latest chapter. Please review. Thanks. ^_^

PERCY'S POV

"Annabeth!"

She looked at me as if she wasn't expecting me. Her eyes were puffy and sore. I guess she must've been crying the whole day.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I have received your email. Please don't go…You don't have to do this."

"Percy, I'm afraid it has to be this way."

Her voice was no longer filled with anger but now it was only sorrow and doubt.

"Annabeth…about the girl. That wasn't my doing. It was..."

"Aphrodite…yeah, I know. Mom told me about that. Anyway, I'm sorry I misjudged you." She said.

"That's okay but then…why leave?" I stared at her gray eyes.

"Percy, this is for our own good. I know how much you adore your father and how you want to fight with him side by side. You can still ask the gods for immortality. I guess I can be happy for you then." She said as if she has difficulty letting it out.

"Do you really think I wanted immortality? Of course not. Sure it is tempting but it's nothing compared to have a happy life with…with someone you love."

"Please stop it…" Annabeth looked away from me.

I gripped her wrist. "I'm really sorry for what I said. I didn't mean it seriously. I..I was angry that time and since then, I have regretted it really. I was wrong…so wrong to hurt you. Please Annabeth, I'm so sorry."

"Forget about it. It's fine."

"Annabeth, don't leave…please."

"I really have to go. Please don't follow me or make any attempts to contact me. This has been NOT SO EASY for me, you know. If you really love me, let me go. Just as what I have done to you." Annabeth said with a tear rolling down on her cheek.

I breathed heavily. This is not just gonna be the end of everything. There is still a chance for things to work out. Annabeth knew that also but she was obviously denying it. But I have to let her know…I have to go all out.

"I can't live without you. I can't afford to lose you. Without you, I don't know what will become of me. I can't live a normal life without you. If I really do lose you, my world will stop on its tracks." I said with pleading eyes.

"You're no longer a kid, Percy. Stop acting childish. Please don't make it more difficult for me." Annabeth sneered at me.

"Well, I am a kid! You know, I always follow my instincts and do whatever I want. But now I'm at a loss as to what to do. Annabeth, tell me what I should do to grab a chance to continue loving you?" I continued.

"Enough already…Have you ever thought about my happiness? Try to put yourself in my shoes and give it some thought. I guess then you can give me a peaceful life…and that is true love." Annabeth blinked with tears.

"Happiness? I want it too! Annabeth, please listen. I love you. I love you so much that I can even fight the deadliest monsters just to prove it. In my eyes, I can only see you. Annabeth, I know I can be very annoying. But I want you to know, if you leave, I will go after you. No matter where, even if it's Tartarus, even if you run to the edge of the world, I will be there. I want you to know one thing, that is I really need you in my life because I love you." I said desperately.

The bus arrived. Shoot! I forgot that my father manipulated the Mist only on taxis not buses. But it doesn't matter anymore. Annabeth is determined to leave. She just stood there like a statue. Tears we're falling continuously from her gray eyes. Her eyes were looking straight at me as if she wants to say that she loves me also. But something was troubling her. I know she wants to say something. It seems she was holding back the right words to say. It was like her gray, stormy eyes would say to me 'I love you too, Percy. I really want to be with you'. After staring at me for a minute with teary eyes, she turned away and hitched the bus ride.

"ANNABETH!" I shouted.

I watched the bus close its doors and Annabeth sat on the spot closest to the window. She was still crying fervently. As the bus veered away, a crazy idea popped in my mind. My body, as if it has its own will, started to make a move.

I ran after the bus like a madman.

ANNABETH'S POV

I couldn't just stop myself from crying. I've been crying since Percy said those words. This is the right thing to do, I told myself. But my heart was just like torturing me as if it's telling me 'What have you done? Why do you prefer to live a lie?' This is for the best, Mom told me that earlier. She also told me that a child of Athena should use proper and logical reasons to deal with this kind of things. I guess she's right. I should bear this agony for now and it'll probably pass. I should not let my heart rule me because it's bad for the both of us. But I still feel empty. I feel much worse today than yesterday. Then I heard a loud tap in the bus' side…at the spot where I sat.

"ANNABETH, PLEASE DON'T LEAVE!" Percy yelled like crazy.

My gods! What is he doing? That idiot is making a scene. I watch him running side by side by the bus. Running and calling my name all over again. He cannot keep this up forever. That seaweed-filled mind of his…it's so annoying. And this is too painful to watch. The thought of him, desperately trying to find his way to me, feels like my heart is gonna burst. His words were continuously replaying my mind again and again. Please Percy, I told myself, don't do this. Oh gods! I'm going crazy. My eyes, like a spring of tears, were gushing nonstop.

"ANNABETH!"

"ANNABETH!"

Each time he called my name, it was getting weaker and fainter. It was also torturing me each time. Percy's gonna collapse from exhaustion anytime. But he kept running and yelling at my name while I can't stop myself from crying. I caught a glimpse of his tired, desperate face. He was slowing down. His feet can barely keep up. His knees were about to fail him. Then he was getting farther away from me. I watched him buckle his knees in exhaustion. He's now barely visible in my sight. Oh gods! I can't lose him! I can't do this. I can't take this anymore. Mom may be upset about this and I can explain this to her afterwards. There's no escape from Percy Jackson. There's no escape from love. I need him in my life just as much as he needs me. I really want to be with the man I love.

"STOP!" I yelled at the driver.

"Sorry, missy…I can't stop here." the driver said.

"Please, let me get out!" I shouted frantically.

"No."

"I beg you, please!" I said, sounding more desperate.

"Alright, I'll pull over." The driver finally yielded.

I stood up and hurriedly went to the door. The passengers were all eyes on me but I didn't care. Then I got out from the bus and started running towards Percy. I'm sure I will not regret this. I don't even have any idea if love will just fade or not so I'm going to find out that myself. I ran at the same time, wiping away the tears with my hands. Suddenly I just smiled. I felt like a thorn in my heart has been plucked away. My mind and body are one now. I don't want to lie to myself anymore. Well, I have no time to think it over. Whatever that may happen or whether I'll regret this or not, all I want to do is run towards his arms.

PERCY'S POV

I watch myself fall into my knees. I was in utter defeat. I have always won my battles no matter what. But this time, it was different. Tired, exhausted,helpless and in pain…in pain of losing the girl I love. No one to blame but myself. I sat there on the street just near the side walk and found myself staring at my shoes. I breathed heavily. I panted. I was gasping for air. I feel weak. And it's worse right now with Annabeth gone. I am now in shambles. I thought about the memories we shared – the dangerous quests, difficult battles, life at camp, fun with our friends, our parodies. Then I suddenly felt something warm rolling on my cheek. Tears were already falling. My heart was wincing in pain. The pedestrians passed me by and seemed to ignore. If some cop would notice me why I was sitting at the street corner, he'd probably arrest me and dump me in jail. Let him arrest me for all I care. Things don't matter to me anymore. Then I could hear footsteps heading towards me. I didn't bother to look. Probably this is just some cop going to arrest me. Then the footsteps stopped and it bellowed out a voice that I so wanted to hear.

"YOU STUPID IDIOT! IT'S DANGEROUS SITTING ON THE STREET!"

Annabeth was there a few feet away from me. She was still teary-eyed. But I could sense somehow she's filled with joy. Her gray eyes now twinkled with happiness instead of pain. She was smiling at me. She changed her mind after all. I couldn't believe this and I was too stunned to say anything. I stood up.

"THAT SEAWEED-FILLED MIND OF YOURS IS SO IRRITATING!"

Words don't seem to come out from my mouth. But I was relieved that she's back. All I could think of was just go to her and hold her tight in my arms. I ran towards her and she also did the same thing. Then we embraced each other so warmly that it felt like it was just me and Annabeth were the only people in the street. I hugged her so tight that I somehow manage to lift her up. Then finally my mouth started functioning.

"Oh gods, Annabeth…I'm sorry. Please forgive me." I whimpered into her ears.

"Don't ever do that again, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth cried but this time it was tears of joy.

I don't know what she could be referring to: me running like mad after the bus or the things that I said. But it doesn't matter. Annabeth is back in my life again.

"I love you." She stared at me.

"I love you, too."

Then we kissed each other under the New York moonlight. Well, what Annabeth planned to build permanently was not going to be wasted after all. Things can be rebuilt. And now, I guess we are back at square one of the rebuilding process but I think now we can probably start it strongly unlike before...start a new foundation of a new building, so to speak. With our hands intertwined, I walked with her towards her place.

PERCABETH survived Round One. :) So how was it? I hope you like it. And then so... what now? I might update this or maybe not. I guess in a few days or maybe in a couple of hours. I need to reload ideas. Hahaha. Well, thanks for reading. Don't forget the reviews. ^_^